Low‐cost implantable device for electrical stimulation of peripheral nerves in rodents (651.13)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to design and test a low‐cost miniaturized device for acute and chronic electrical stimulation of peripheral nerves. The device consists of a battery‐efficient electronic circuit, equipped with surface mounting devices (SMD), which allows precise adjustment of stimulatory parameters that can be changed with the device implanted in the animal. The frequency of stimulation is monitored by a microcontroller while a miniaturized battery feeds the circuit. The device is embedded in non‐toxic resin and subcutaneously implanted. Male Wistar rats (N=8) were anesthetized with a ketamine/xylazine mixture and implanted with bipolar steel electrodes in the vagus nerve at cervical level. The ECG was recorded during 5 minutes at baseline (Basal heart rate: 290±15 bpm), then the electrodes were connected to the stimulation device and square pulses (20 Hz; 0.1 ms; 3 V) were delivered to the nerve during 1 minute, followed by a recovery period of 5 minutes. It was found that electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve, using the low‐cost device fully designed in our laboratory, induces bradycardic responses (110±24 Δbpm) ceasing after electrical stimulation. This study showed that a low‐cost implantable device was successfully designed and precisely used for peripheral nerve electrical stimulation.Grant Funding Source: Supported by FAPESP, CNPq, CAPES, NIC‐USP